Northern youths laud Gavi for renewing Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment

Northern youth organisations under the auspice of Arewa Youths Initiative and North-Central Youths Dialogue Frontiers have commended Gavi, an international organisation – a global Vaccine Alliance for reappointing Nigeria’s former minister of finance and coordinator of the economy, Okonjo-Iweala as chair for another 3- year term.

Gavi is an international organisation of billionaire, Bill and Melinda Gates bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest and developing countries.

The groups in a joint congratulatory message to Dr. Ngozie Okonjo-Iweala signed by Khalifa Bello and Wang Joshua, National President and National Coordinator respectively said the reappointment of the former minister did not come as a surprise considering her starring qualities.

The letter reads in part, “It is with no surprise that Bill and Melinda Gates have reappointed you as chairperson of GAVI; the vaccine Alliance up to the year 2020 with the aim of “saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in the third world and developing countries” which you have graciously accepted.

“We join you in receiving this mandate and honour knowing that you’re truly an intellectual property for the world not only Nigeria and Africa. You have placed a very high premium on hard work and service to humanity; today you’re reaping the fruits of your labour. What others lobby for, come to you on merit in the midst of high competitors”.

The groups further described Okonjo Iweala as a rare gem that can only be sort for when the ordinary are unable to fix their economic and financial puzzles together and more value is also needed for sustainability.

“You majored in fixing the world bank, handled and projected the Nigeria economy to being the first /largest economy in Africa, initiated financial procurement reforms, fixed bureaucracy to easy doing business in Nigeria, facilitated Treasuring Single Account (TSA) to curb corruption and pilfering of National resources, revived trust and credibility in our financial, public educational, and research institutions, instilled discipline into Nigeria’s expenditure management amongst other qualities”.

The group maintained that the sterling qualities of the former minister in international economy helped in reverting the labelling of Nigeria as a financially unstable and unfit nation for foreign trade, and made her responsible to honouring trade agreements.

While pledging willingness to support the initiative of Gavi to salvaging the lives of the down trodden, the groups said as pressure and advocacy group, it would not hesitate to work with her in establishing a corridor of cooperation that will enhance more awareness and preparedness of the locals for improved compliance to the smooth administration of your policies within our domain.

The groups concluded that aims of the organisation would be achieved under the leadership of Okonjo-Iweala.

“Surely, the GAVI organisation is in the safe custody of an ablest strategists and advocate of financial prudence”, the group noted.